COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Wynne molding career at Del-Val after NFL great

DOYLESTOWN – It is one thing for a young football player to look up to a former Pro Bowler. It is quite another for that young player to emulate his idol’s style of play. Danny Wynne has done just that so far in his career at Delaware Valley College.

As a youngster growing up in Hatfield, Wynne admired and enjoyed watching former Eagles safety Brian Dawkins perform on Sunday afternoons, and for good reason. Dawkins played 16 seasons in the NFL (13 in Philly), went to nine Pro Bowls and lit up many a receiver who dared to venture into his real estate. Wynne not only takes the field with a take-no-prisoners attitude that made Dawkins so effective, but the junior safety out of North Penn High follows through by making life uncomfortable for opposing pass catchers. The proof is in the numbers and last season, his first as a starter for Charles “Duke” Greco’s Aggies, Wynne led the team in tackles with 116.

“Brian Dawkins is my idol,” said Wynne, while relaxing in the football offices at James Work Memorial Stadium on Friday. “I have always looked up to him since I was a little kid and that is mostly because of his big hits, and I love to hit. He also made plays with interceptions, so he was an all-around player.”

While Wynne’s number of tackles last season was an impressive 11-game total, there is a larger message behind the stat. That message is one he delivers to his fellow defensive backs.

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“I take pride that I led the team in tackles and I encourage other guys to hustle to the ball because good things can happen,” he said. “You can force a fumble or just get in on the tackle. The tackles do not mean much if you do not win and I would rather have the wins than tackles, but I do take pride having led the team.”

Speaking of wins, Delaware Valley went 7-4 last season, including 6-3 in the Division III Middle Atlantic Conference. Wynne feels the Aggies will improve upon both marks this year thanks in large part to the competition that has been taking place in preseason camp. A number of new faces dot the roster and nobody can afford to take a practice off.

“We are as competitive as ever,” said Wynne, who played on special teams and nickel packages as a freshman. “Nobody’s job is safe. We brought in a bunch of transfers and freshmen and that is really keeping us older guys on our toes every day at practice. It is about understanding that every rep counts and that there is depth behind you, so if you mess up you can lose your spot.”

That is not likely to happen to Wynne, a team captain. He is not about to let his level of play slip. Rather, it is all about building on what he did in 2013.

“Danny is a captain for a reason and we need him to step up and continue to build off of what he has done,” said Greco, in his first season as head coach after 11 seasons as an assistant. “I expect him to have a monster year. The kid works his tail off and you cannot ask for anything more. He leads by example and when it is time to get going he is the first one yelling to get us going.”

Wynne credits his parents for giving him the opportunity to get to this stage. They have been there for him since his youth and have continued to encourage him every step of the way.

“They motivated me and gave me the drive that I have today to be successful,” he said of parents Patricia and Robert. “They put me through all the football camps when I was younger. They were all great programs and at the Pop Warner level I was able to travel to Florida. They have always been there for me even if it was just being at a practice. What they have done for me really motivates me to be my best.”

That motivation ran deep during the course of the off-season when Wynne set out to improve his coverage skills and foot work. The latter is an area that he worked particularly hard at and continues to do so leading up to the Aggies’ Sept. 6 opener at Montclair State. Taking his improved body of work onto the practice field this preseason has been a case of so far, so good.

The same could also be said of Wynne’s academic and athletic experience at Delaware Valley. Coming out of a strong North Penn program Wynne had some feelers from Division II programs such as West Chester and other Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference schools.

“It has been a little different coming from such a large high school, which is bigger than this college,” said the criminal justice major. “But I really like everything about it here because there are so few students in the classrooms that you can get one-on-one time with professors as needed. As far as football, coming from North Penn we were all about winning tradition and when I came here I felt at home. The Division III level is a little faster than high school, but I would say I adjusted quickly to it. This is another step up the ladder to get to where I want to be.”

While he has two seasons of eligibility ahead of him, Wynne will before too long look forward to pursuing his passion to the fullest after his playing days at the Doylestown campus have concluded.

“I want to take it as far as I can go,” he said. “Football is my biggest passion in life and as long as I can play the game for however long, I will do it no matter what level it is.”